Int. No. 2172
By Council Members Levine, Rosenthal, Kallos and Yeger
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to eligibility requirements for one-shot deal rental arrears grants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the expiration and repeal thereof
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-144 to read as follows:
§ 21-144 Eligibility for one-shot deal rental arrears grants in response to COVID-19. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
COVID-19. The term “COVID-19” means the 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.
COVID-19 period. The term “COVID-19 period” means the period beginning March 7, 2020 to, and including, March 6, 2022.
COVID-19 state disaster emergency. The term “COVID-19 state disaster emergency” means the state disaster emergency declared by the governor in executive order number 202 issued on March 7, 2020.
HRA. The term “HRA” means the human resources administration.
One-shot deal rental arrears grant. The term “one-shot deal rental arrears grant” means a one-time grant of financial assistance that HRA provides to households to pay rental arrears resulting from an emergency in which HRA determines eligibility, and the eligibility requirements do not require approval from the state of New York.
b. Notwithstanding any local law, rule or agency policy to the contrary, the commissioner shall not require an applicant to demonstrate an ability to pay future rent as a precondition of eligibility for a one-shot deal rental arrears grant if such applicant experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19 during the COVID-19 period.
c. For the purposes of subdivision b of this section, an applicant has experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19 if such applicant demonstrates, through documentation determined by the commissioner, a loss of income as a direct result of one or more of the following:
1. Such applicant or a member of such applicant’s household was diagnosed with COVID-19;
2. Such applicant was providing care for a family member or a member of such applicant’s household who was diagnosed with COVID-19;
3. Such applicant became unemployed, partially unemployed or could not commence employment as a direct result of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 state disaster emergency; or
4. Such applicant became primarily responsible for providing financial support for such applicant’s household because the previous head of the household died as a direct result of COVID-19.
d. The commissioner shall promulgate rules necessary and appropriate to the administration of this section.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law and expires and is deemed repealed 5 years after it becomes law.
NLB
LS # 15173 16112
11/20/20